ColegauCymru is pleased to learn of Welsh Government’s commitment to develop a comprehensive employability and skills support package in the wake of the Covid19 Pandemic. In a statement yesterday, Ken Skates MS confirmed the intention to drive up skills and employability, which will be vital for Wales’s economic recovery post-Covid19.
We welcome the assurance that everyone over 16 in Wales will receive advice and support to find work, pursue self-employment or find a place in education or training.
ColegauCymru Chief Executive Iestyn Davies said
“We welcome today’s statement from the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales as we seek the most effective ways to support young people, both through this immediate crisis and beyond. One of the ways to guarantee support in the future might be to revisit the age of compulsory education in Wales and consider whether there are benefits to reviewing the ways we ensure that young people are involved in education, training or volunteering beyond the current age of 16.
Work-based learning and apprenticeships have hugely important roles to play in exiting the pandemic: supporting employers, learners and the changed economy we know we will face. A significant number of adults are going to need to retrain and upskill and the Further Education sector is keen to build on the flexible solutions we’ve been piloting to play our part. Funding models need to take account of these new challenges and adapt accordingly.
This is a welcome step in the right direction and it’s important that this is a genuine and real investment of new money into employability programmes. We look forward to working closely with Welsh Government on further details.”
Further reading
Read the full Welsh Government Press Release: Driving up skills and employability vital for Wales’ economic recovery
Image by National Assembly for Wales from Wales - Ken Skates AM, CC BY 2.0
